Pinkie Pie, when did you have time to make this?!
A pink pony popped through the pile of suitcases with an orange lifejacket worn on her pink body. There was a camera around her neck which she flashed and had a paper slid through it.
''This one is for the scrapbook!'' Pinkie squealed, getting an open book from her saddlebag to show everypony the pictures of them during their long journey.
Applejack's eyes goggled, admiring the opened book. ''Pinkie Pie? When did you have time to make this?!''
Pinkie shut the book closed, having Applejack watch her put it inside her saddlebag again. She stared at her sternly. ''Applejack. When you're family...'' she landed her muzzle against Applejack's, ''...you make the time.''
She gave a cheerful smile before backing away as Big Macintosh pushed his hoof against the water to paddle the raft again. Applejack cheered in applause as she started stirring the wheel.
After coming back home and finished their argument on who will be writing in the journal about their trip, they have all decided to let Granny Smith write in it since she was the one that had great points, such as great storytelling. However, Applejack decided to ascend her staircase with her charismatic friend.
She landed on her bed and took a sigh of relief after a long day, whereas Pinkie quietly sat beside her as she plotted her face inside her saddlebag to get out her scrapbook. Applejack's head perked up as she watched her friend place the scrapbook on her nightstand.
''Pinkie, I don't know what to say about this but this was so thoughtful of you,'' Applejack commented with a meaningful smile.
Pinkie returned it back. ''Aw, thank you, cousin! I just had to create this scrapbook because it had shown that we had been through so much together and it also means that we are one big super-duper, happy family!''
Pinkie pranced cheerfully as she tackled the cowgirl and pinned her to the floor to embrace her in a warm hug, which she had accepted and returned it back to her.
''But seriously, Pinkie. This is too much.''
Pinkie shrugged. ''It's nothing! I have done far more exciting things than this!'' She gave out a meaningful smile as she hopped out of the cowgirl's bedroom and descended down the staircase, leaving Applejack to tap her chin as she pounded to herself. She shook it off, saving it for later, and followed her friend behind.
Applejack and Apple Bloom had waved at their pink friend, who was leaving their farm and exiting through the gates of Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack sighed, turning around to face her family sternly.
''Okay. We need to do somethin' 'bout this, y'all. Pinkie Pie had always been a good friend to us so we have to do somethin' back to her at least,'' Applejack informed.
Apple Bloom was sitting on the couch as she tapped her chin to pound to herself carefully. ''I mean, she is such a true friend so I totally agree 'bout givin' our affection in return. But how?''
''That's what I'm wonderin' 'bout,'' Applejack stated.
Granny Smith laughed. ''Y'all remember the time when she would use to give us heart boxes full of chocolates on Hearth's Warming Eve before Twilight had moved here?''
''Ee-yup,'' said Big Macintosh with a nod.
''She would always do somethin' for her friends,'' said Applejack. ''And that's what made her special to us and felt like she was actually part of our family.''
''She could turn any frown upside down!'' Apple Bloom beamed.
Big Macintosh nodded. Applejack still tapped her chin until she lit up a lightbulb on top of her head.
''I got it!'' she piped. ''It's not the gifts that she gives us that make us happy but it's her presence and that's plenty much a gift to us so all we need to do is to make our presence be a gift to her in return!''
''But isn't it already?'' said Apple Bloom.
''It is...huh, well, maybe I'm suggestin' we do somethin' more than share our presence with her. She would give us actual things so all we need to do is to give animate objects in return.''
The elderly mare tapped her hoof to the floor. ''I guess so, younging.''
''Now we just need to find the perfect animate gift for her,'' Applejack declared. ''I know ponies say us bein' in their life is a gift enough but come on! This is Pinkie Pie we are talkin' 'bout that gives us more than that!''
''I understand,'' said Big Macintosh. ''How 'bout we give her this doll?''
He showed them a grey pony doll that had a button falling off and drizzled noodle brown hair. It was worn in blue shorts with white polka dots designed on it. This had made everypony cringe.
''Isn't that Twilight's doll?'' Apple Bloom guessed.
''Never you mind that,'' Applejack interfered. ''How about we give her the biggest apple pie yet with all of us bakin' it? That way she can see how she really is part of the apple family.''
''It's a good idea, Applejack,'' Granny Smith commented, ''but we need somethin' more pizzazz since she always does.''
Applejack raised an eyebrow. ''Oh, yeah? And what are ya thinkin' we should do?''
''I was thinkin' 'bout handin' over our family scrapbook in return so that way she can actually feel like part of our family.''
Applejack scoffed. ''Please, Granny, it has to be more original. Pinkie had already made us that for us and now we have to try somethin' new and different. Oh, I wish we were as original and creative as her.''
''Which idea do we think is better?'' Big Macintosh spoke.
''I didn't say anythin' yet,'' said Apple Bloom.
''I liked mah idea better,'' Applejack said.
''Your idea stinks,'' Granny Smith snapped.
They all stopped for a moment to really think about it. The clock on the wall started ticking through the long awaking silence between them. Applejack scratched her head and tapped her chin as she pondered to herself. She released a sigh in defeat as she lowered her hat towards her face to cover it in shame.
''I am sorry, y'all, but I guess we ain't cut out to be suited to be in Pinkie's family after all,'' Applejack spoke. ''Even though it's the other way around.''
Apple Bloom sighed. ''I just really wanted to give somethin' to her just like how she would to us. That way I wouldn't feel so guilty into not givin' somethin' to her when she has.''
''She's part of our family,'' said Applejack, ''yet we don't treat her like one.''
Granny Smith yanked her flank as her granddaughter yelled out in agony. ''What are ya talkin' 'bout we don't treat her like family? You know just because-''
''She's right.''
She turned towards her youngest granddaughter who gave a sigh in defeat.
''If we really were then we would have made her happy by givin' her gifts, makin' her laugh, sharin' our presence...but instead it's the other way 'round.''
''I don't think y'all understand the meanin' of family,'' said Applejack.
Granny Smith raised an eyebrow. ''Excuse me? You're the one who is fussin' 'bout us doin' somethin' for her back.''
''Yes, but Pinkie is meant to spread joy and happiness around Equestria as laughter is her element of harmony but just because we aren't able to be creative enough to pull out a gift for our dearest cousin then that doesn't mean we aren't her family. We can give her happiness in our own way like...''
She pointed at Big Macintosh. ''Giving her Twilight's doll, or...'' She pointed at Granny Smith. ''Sharing our scrapbook of memories with her even though it might not be original.'' She stood in the center of the room. ''What matters is that we had still managed to make her happy, so what do you say, y'all? Wanna share our happiness with her in our own way?''
Granny Smith's eyes started forming water until she shook her head to wipe the tears coming out of her eyes. ''Aw, shucks. Ya just keep gettin' older and clever every day now.''
She embraced Applejack. ''Yerr mama and papa would be so proud of yerr up there but ya better not grow older than me, ya hear?''
Applejack gulped as she sheepishly chuckled. She nodded in response as the elderly mare laughed and embraced her with another hug again. This time Big Mac and Apple Bloom joined along too.
They all broke apart since Apple Bloom had got an idea stuck in her head.
At Sugar Cube Corner, Pinkie Pie was tying up her mane in a bun and had herself in her warm fuzzy pajamas so she could go to sleep. She trotted towards her bed and tucked herself in as she turned off the light lamp that was sitting beside her on top of her nightstand.
However, there were four ponies hiding underneath her bed but gently trotted themselves out of there. They slowly took a peek at the pink pony, who was snoring vulgarly during her slumber.
Applejack turned to her family as she was wearing long black socks in each of her hooves and a saddlebag on her back. She was holding a lamp with fireflies in them to see clearly in the dark but made sure not to flash onto the sleeping pony's eyes. Big Macintosh was wearing a wig and a dress as a disguise, which the others had mentioned to be ridiculous, but he didn't listen. Granny Smith and Apple Bloom were just wearing night visioning goggles to see in the dark.
The cowgirl got out a deflated balloon from her saddlebag. She used all of her oxygen in her so she could blow the balloon up. Big Macintosh had gotten a bobby pin from her mane, which was actually a needle. This had frightened the cowgirl and accidentally released her grasp of the balloon, which made it collide into the needle.
They all closed their eyes, preparing for the balloon to explode in their faces. Once it did, Applejack had shot a half-death glare at her elder brother until a moaning sound was coming from the bed.
*POP*
''Quick!'' Applejack whispered. ''Everypony, hide under the bed!''
But it was too late. Pinkie Pie had already gotten up from her bed and rubbed out her eyes to fully waken up. They all gulped in unison as they wobbled their legs.
Pinkie gasped. ''Applejack? What do you guys think you are doing intruding on my home?!''
''Pinkie Pie, look, we can explain!''
Pinkie raised an eyebrow, turning away from her with her hooves folded against her chest. ''Please do, then.''
Applejack stood up from the ground with a gulp. ''W-Well, I...we was tryin' to plan somethin' amazin' for ya but Big Macintosh just had to ruin it and wake you up! I felt guilty, okay? I felt guilty about how you would always work your flank off all the time just to make us happy with gifts! I, we, felt like we should give you somethin' back as well since you are our cousin and cousins are meant to...to...to...''
Pinkie's eyes spread out but then burst herself into laughter, having everypony glance at each other in confusion.
''Oh, Applejack! Haven't you learned anything about friends and family over the years of our friend Twilight having to send letters to Princess Celestia every time? Happiness doesn't come from gifts, it comes from our beautiful hearts and presence! So you shouldn't work your flanks off for me. You being in my life is a gift enough.''
She grabbed everypony in a warm and loving embrace.
''I knew that but,'' said Applejack, ''you work your flanks off all the time for us so why can't we--''
Pinkie interrupted. ''So? It's in my nature to do so! You can make me happy by doing other things!'' She turned to her bluntly. ''Be original, Applejack.''
Applejack couldn't help but chuckle as she nudged Granny Smith in the side.
''I love you all no matter what!'' Pinkie declared with a joyful bounce as she gathered everypony in a group hug.
''Well, I guess that's settled then, huh?'' said Apple Bloom.
Applejack rolled her eyes and hushed her down. They all drifted into laughter as they continued to embrace themselves. Looks like Applejack had herself worked up over nothing. Friendship and loves for friends and family come from the heart, not from gifts. And Applejack had learned that through her friend that is least likely to give her a friendship lesson, but hey! What are friends for?
''Say cheese!'' Pinkie beamed, bouncing on her tail and snapping a shot from her camera. Soon after, she gets the photo out of her camera and sticks it into her scrapbook.
